Expert: BPI will have its work cut out for it

A show of support for a Siouxland company -- under fire for its product, lean finely textured beef. Leaders of five states, the USDA and a food safety group, rallied around a Siouxland company accused of producing a product tagged with a derogatory, two-word name.More >>

Five state leaders-- governors from Iowa, Texas and Kansas with lieutenant governors from Nebraska and South Dakota-- toured BPI for about 30 minutes. They saw first hand how Lean Finely Textured Beef is made at Beef Products Inc.'s South Sioux City, Neb. plant.More >>

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, NE (KTIV) -

One expert says Beef Products Incorporated has its work cut out for it. Larry Smith, with the Institute for Crisis Management, says BPI faces a tough road ahead in convincing consumers and grocery stores to accept it's lean processed beef trimmings.

Today, Governors and Lieutenant Governors from five states will tackle the task. They'll be touring BPI's South Sioux City plant this afternoon. Governors Terry Branstad of Iowa, Sam Brownback of Kansas and Rick Perry of Texas are among those who will take the tour as a show of support for BPI's lean finely textured beef which has come under fire with a campaign of misinformation in the social and some national media. Many stores have pulled the product from their shelves amid public pressure. After the tour, the state officials will speak at a news conference.